US Open experience

Slingblade61 · iTrader: (1) #1 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 09:15 AM

5 hours.
That's how long it took to get there from Connecticut. Who knew? I figured maybe 3. Long Island is a lot bigger than it looks.

When we arrived we find out that the shuttle buses are a good 20 minutes away from the event....that was disappointing.

When I finally got to the course I was impressed by a few things, one has to be the mud. That poor course is getting hammered by all the rain. The people moving across the fairways are like cattle, grinding the grass into oblivion. Cutting swaths 20 yards wide through once pristine Bermuda. The cattle analogy is a good one because the other thing that stands out is the smell. Traipsing through the mud one cannot help but be reminded of the odor a dairy farm emits.

I have been to several PGA events and I have found that the experience does not vary much from one venue to another. You have your $3.50 cokes, $4.00 hot dogs and merchandise at nearly every turn. This time I have to mention the main merchandise tent at Bethpage.It is the size of Walmart. I have never seen such an enormous merchandise facility anywhere.

The variable is has to be each different course. I found Bethpage to be stunning but not user friendly. Very hilly with steep viewing areas. The right side of the 18th tee box for instance was easily 50° of mud and trampled grass. I saw a couple of people go down trying to negotiate the trip to get close to the tee box. The weather and the lay of the land conspired against me, keeping me at lengthy viewing distances.

The opposite is true of the TPC course at River Highlands where next week Travelers puts on the Travelers Championship. The TPC course is made for tournament viewing with stadium style hills or relatively flat viewing areas.

The golf, in spite of the weather, was inspiring. I especially enjoyed watching some of the amatures who seemed to be having fun in spite of scores like +7 and +20.

In spite of all the difficulty with the travel and the weather I highly reccommend that you get to a PGA event if only once in your life. It's well worth the time.

slickpitt · iTrader: (1) #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 09:17 AM

Have to agree with ya Sling... there are a lot of pain in the ass things you have to put up with to get to an event like that... but it's well worth the effort if you ever get a chance

Nice write up

**JArmour** · iTrader: (0) #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 06:03 PM

I was there on Friday and had a great time. I took a pair of water proof hiking shoes and looked like a genius. I saw a lot of people who must not have had a television because they were wearing flip-flops.

It was pretty cool to see my first PGA event and have the field that was there. I just wish I could have taken a camera.

**clemsonhacker** · iTrader: (0) #4 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009, 09:46 AM

my first pga event was The Masters in 08..wow

**mddubya** · iTrader: (1) #5 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009, 10:01 AM

Back many moons ago me and my Dad went to the St. Jude Classic every year in Mphs. We'd always follow Trevino around, not only was he hilarious, but the man could swing a mean stick.

It is amazing to see some of the shots they pull off in person. The great thing about Trevino was that he'd tell the gallery exactly what he was going to try to do, "I'm going to cut it around this tree, let it hit about 20 feet short of the green and run up there like a scalded dog". Then he'd pull off the exact shot he had just described.

**JohnnyHabs** · iTrader: (0) #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 04:28 PM

I was there Thursday-Sunday, great time, lots of mud, luckily I was prepared with golf rain gear and waterproof golf shoes (previously black in color, now turned permanently brown). All in all a great time (this was my third US Open attended, and by far the best crowd!). If anyone gets a chance to play Bethpage Black, take advantage of it, in my opinion it is a worthwhile experience.

BigJim13 · iTrader: (3) #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 04:56 PM

What's it like seeing a pro hit a ball? I have played with several good golfers including one good buddy of mine who played College golf ( DII I think). He is very consistent in hitting the sweetspot and its fun to watch his short game. But while he used to be a teaching pro he was not a touring pro.

So what's it like seeing Tiger/Phil and any of the pros hit a ball? Different sound, ball flight etc?

**VtDivot** · iTrader: (0) #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJim13

So what's it like seeing Tiger/Phil and any of the pros hit a ball? Different sound, ball flight etc?

Nothing comes close to anything I have ever seen on a golf course... they absolutely MASH it, rediculously far

BigJim13 · iTrader: (3) #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VtDivot

Nothing comes close to anything I have ever seen on a golf course... they absolutely MASH it, rediculously far

Kinda what I thought. One of my buddies went to a practice round at Augusta, this was in like '98 or '99. He was watching Tiger hit 3 woods on the practice range. The first thing he noticed was how many friggin people were watching Tiger just hit balls.

The other thing he noticed was that Tiger was hitting 3 woods to the net at the end of the range-no idea how far that is as I have never been there- and he said he was pretty much hitting the same spot over and over again.

I always love it on TV when the Cameras catch the right angle and you can see the flight of the ball. It does not look like the flight I get to say the least...LOL.

Slingblade61 · iTrader: (1) #10 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJim13

What's it like seeing a pro hit a ball? I have played with several good golfers including one good buddy of mine who played College golf ( DII I think). He is very consistent in hitting the sweetspot and its fun to watch his short game. But while he used to be a teaching pro he was not a touring pro.

So what's it like seeing Tiger/Phil and any of the pros hit a ball? Different sound, ball flight etc?

I can relate a story from last year's Traveler's Championship. We were tent side at 18 and across the way was the electronic scoreboard and a drive distance thingy. Bubba watson was playing with 2 no names and their driving distance was displayed on the board after they hit. I do not remember which was who's but the display read 352, 347 and 315.

352? WTF?

amazing.

BigJim13 · iTrader: (3) #11 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slingblade61

I can relate a story from last year's Traveler's Championship. We were tent side at 18 and across the way was the electronic scoreboard and a drive distance thingy. Bubba watson was playing with 2 no names and their driving distance was displayed on the board after they hit. I do not remember which was who's but the display read 352, 347 and 315.

352? WTF?

amazing.

Wow...I wonder what thats like...352...

**LeftyHoges** · iTrader: (0) #12 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJim13

Wow...I wonder what thats like...352...

I'll hit driver then seven iron and tell ya!!!

(not quite that bad but you get the picture)

**rob0225** · iTrader: (0) #13 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VtDivot

Nothing comes close to anything I have ever seen on a golf course... they absolutely MASH it, rediculously far

..and it seems as if they do it effortlessly.

I've been to both the Master sand the MCI/Worldcom and several occassions. Inside the ropes at Harbour Town as a caddie during the pro am.

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